filling himself a glass, he says, looking full upon the Cleopatra, "I drink to thy beauty; since it is by beauty I am to rise to fortune." After which he fell to cramming his mouth with cakes and sweetmeats like a starved man. When his appetite seemed in some measure appeased, he said,

"On my soul, Tishy, your father owes you much. 'Rat me, if this han't the best wine I've tasted since Joe Mickle of the Bellevue broke. And you're to make my fortune wench-tho' I would have you to know it was I who got you here."

"I'll not forget you," said I, "when I am come to my fortune."

Depend on't," said he, "I'll not let you. But does he bite ?-you han't answered me."

"He must find something agreeable in me, or he'd not seek my company."

"He was with you then, of his own accord just now ?"

"Yes," said I.

He crossed his legs, stroked his chin, and broke into a slow grin, which broadening, presently expanded into a laugh, that grew so loud, I was

My character surprises Mr. Boothby. 259

fain to silence him by bidding him take more wine.

I'd

"You'll do! you'll do!" he cried out. "Tis in you. You have not a drop of your mother's blood in you. My Lavinia had rather have died than made love by stratagem. Faith, she was a pretty fool,-better to others than to herself. But you are true to Lætitia. You'll never forsake Lætitia, egad! Thy religion, thy love, thy hopes, thy conscience, thy memory, are all,-Lætitia. not have it otherwise. But where did ye get it, wench? For my part, I have always been more a fool than a rogue. The privilege was never mine to draw down over my countenance that excellent mask of merriment or melancholy, of softness or severity, of sweetness or sourness, such as is at thy command,-ay, like I could let down or draw up a blind. 'Tis an admirable gift but see you don't overleap your hopes. I ask ye, wench, does he bite ?"

"I have answered you."

"To be sure.

ing me!"

Lord, how my memory's leav

Then getting up he walked with the uncertain step of want to a side table, crying, "I must see

these beauties whilst I can. You was never a lover of the beautiful, child." I shrewdly watched him as he bent over the table. His back being turned on me, he probably supposed I could not witness his movements; but I presently saw him pass a small exquisite ivory carving of a Roman temple to his pocket; on which I jumped up.

My God!" I cried, "what do you do?"

He pulled the thing from his pocket at once, and laid it upon the table; then rubbed his eyes with the back of his hands, and turning a white, hungry face to me, muttered,—

"I have not eaten for two days."

"I will get you the means of food,” said I, “but you must not stay here. Follow me, and remain in the hall." As a dog follows one that has beaten him, so he came out after me. I closed the door, bade him await me, and ran upstairs to my chamber, where emptying my purse of a guinea, I returned and gave him the money. He clutched my hand that gave it fiercely, opened the housedoor, and went away.

MON

ONDAY being come, I looked forward with some degree of trepidation (which, however, I was very careful to dissemble) to the diversion of the evening. As to my conduct, I was not sensible I should be violating any particular rule of propriety. What I feared was lest I should be detected at the masquerade, and reported to Dr. Aston, who would, I judged, not scruple to dismiss me for such behaviour. I had taken care to mention to Miss Aston that I was engaged to a little card-party at my father's, and begged her consent to be present, which she readily gave.

The evening being arrived, I left the house, not without a beating heart, and calling a coach, bid the fellow drive me to Castle Street. It was fortunately dark, and as I wore a calash, I incurred little risk of my countenance being remem

bered. The fellow drove leisurely, which brought me to Castle Street later by ten minutes than the appointed time. I survey'd the house before I knocked, and observed it to be a decent, wellbuilt abode. A maid responded to my summons, who, without inquiring my name, admitted me. As I went upstairs I was careful to conceal my face, for I had no mind to be remembered. Presently a door was flung open, and Mr. Bracebridge stood forth. I knew him at once, tho' he was habited like a cavalier in the reign of King Charles the Second, and his wig of long flowing curls very sensibly altered the familiar air of his countenance. 'Twould have been impossible for any Jacobite to have contemplated him without emotion, so forcibly would his elegant figure, his beautiful countenance, his erect and haughty carriage, have recalled that train of noble and chivalrous Englishmen who bled and died for their great but unhappy sovereign. He made me a bow of tip-top quality breeding,` and, taking my hand, conducted me within the chamber, which I found to be a small, decent apartment, which might be used by lodgers as a parlour.

"This house, my dearest," says he, in his sof